Ex-President at last

I was elected high school batch president a few months before our graduation. That was before you were born. I was never replaced nor allowed to request for replacement. Many times in the past, I suggested to have a general election to give chance to the others who may want to serve. There were some positions that were changed but never the presidency. They couldn’t understand why they had to select a new president where in fact there is already a president, me. And some of them wanted me to sit for life. #presidentforever.

I didn’t mind actually. My officers were more than capable of handling the simple affairs of our batch. Christmas parties, summer parties, picnics, and a few other concerns like someone is sick, dying, or dead. In the beginning I contributed a lot but lately I didn’t have to because marami ng may pera mga nasa abroad. Especial treats are when some successful individuals based abroad come home and bring them to a fancy restaurant, or host a grand dinner complete with lechon and bottomless beer. We have generous classmates who regularly send money to help the less fortunate. Sometimes to those (not poor) but are able to utu-uto them.

The past few years have become difficult for me to call / attend meetings. To plan activities.
It used to be a 45 minutes to an hour travel time from Ortigas Avenue to our town. Then it became an hour and a half. Two years ago it became a two hour travel. Last year I needed three hours allowance and another three hours coming home unless I travel at night or early morning.

Last week, I had a meeting in Angono. It took me one an a half hours. But from Angono to Binangonan, the traffic was horrible. The vehicles were on a standstill. We made a U-turn somewhere in Darangan because I calculated it would take us another two hours to reach town. Another three hours coming home, I would miss the Holy Mass.

Last Christmas Party, I was abroad. This summer and next Christmas I would be away again. This year I would be away half of the time.

I called our treasurer, Luming, and told her that it’s about time that we hold a general election. I explained to her my hectic schedule. She fully agreed. She also feels the same way. Luming lives at the border of Marikina and Antipolo. She doesn’t work but is always traveling around the world. She is busy watching for good travel and ticket promo packages and surfing the net for the next nice places to visit.

She was wary though that if they announce an election, only a few people would show up. She and Malou thought of a bright idea. They called the party a Post Valentines Party.

Yesterday, I hied off to Binangonan with some excitement. I was confident that I would be able to successfully wiggle out of the presidency at last. The heavy traffic that took me one hour and forty five minutes travel, strengthened my resolve.

Luming ordered 90 tulip flowers that are completely edible kasi they are actually yema.
(Malou Panelo, Johnny)

I personally requested for hot sopas. The merienda they prepared were okoy, lumpiang togue, biko, puto, pansit.

Sopas.

The okoy was good. It was too crispy it hurts my mouth. Matalas.

A few minutes after I arrived at the venue, I grabbed the microphone and greeted everyone and I announced that today we’re going to have a general election. I repeated what I said before we ate. I explained to them the reasons. They understood me when I said, may edad na ako, sumasakit na ang balakang ko at likod sa tagal ng byahe. Some of them still have the same look on their faces. Why? But I no longer gave room for any argument. I sealed the deal when I told them, I wouldn’t be able to plan for summer picnics, parties, field trips to Tagaytay, Subic, etc. Syempre ayaw nila nyan. Gusto natin happy-happy get-together. I just had to give them a guideline on how to choose the next set of officers.
I told them to choose a president that we could all be proud of. Huwag yung nagte-text at mahilig mangutang. Huwag yung may mga issues. Pero hindi kailangan na mayaman or malaki ang bahay.

Engineer Miguel (Mike / Tigi) Arcilla, youngest brother of Atty. Carmelo “Teying” Arcilla”, was my vice president. He agreed to be an officer again but didn’t want to be president. Kasi busy daw sya attending to his 98 year old mom, Ka Chayong. Two of his siblings are in New Jersey while Teying lives in Pasig. Tigi is left to care for his mom and their businesses in Binangonan. Btw, Kung hindi lang nadulas sa banyo si Ka Chayong, naglalakad pa yan sa labas ng bahay ng walang alalay at tungkod.

I spoke to him with a hush voice and convinced him to be president. When I told him marami ka namang officers na mauutusan, tutulong. He could just be the figure head. He agreed. And why do I have a big clout on Tigi? Because we’re childhood friends and neighbor. Siya ang kalaro ko sa tumbang preso, luksong tinik, etc. Siya ang lagi kong kasama nung maliit pa kami, partner in crime. Namimitas kami ng bulaklak ng kapit bahay. Sya rin lagi kong kaaway. Madalas rin kami sabay magsimba. Darating kami nagsisimula na yung misa nasa kalagitnaan na, tapos iintayin namin kung saan yung inabutan namin, tapos aalis na kami, parang sine nung araw. Minsan naman, dalawang beses naming inuulit yung misa. Kaya pag-uwi ko, galit na galit na ang mama ko. “Bakit ang tagal mo?”

His parents thought I was a bad influence. I would convince him to play outside of their gate. Ang bangu-bango nya bagong ligo at may polbo pa sa likod. Pag-uwi nya, ang dungis-dungis at amoy pawis. Minsan nadapa pa merong sugat. Ako ang napagalitan. Lagi silang nagsisimba, almost every day. Eh ako hindi, once a week lang. One time when I went to their house looking for him, his dad, Ka Neto, talked to me in a nice and calm voice, trying to psychologize a 9 year old. He advised me to go to mass and to have a confession because I have many sins.

After being high school batch president since the beginning, for several decades, I finally was able to convince my batch mates that it’s about time to elect a new set of officers. Some of them are probably happy to have a new beginning. During my reign, maraming bawal kasi. No smoking when I am around, no drinking of liquor, kasi ayaw kong nagmi-meeting eh merong lasing at amoy alak. Bawal ang lumalaklak ng cough syrup at humihithit ng marijuana. Shabu pwede. Mahilig sila sa karaoke. When I am around, limited lang ang time for singing and the volume is low.
Nakukulili kasi ako.

Sige lang Mercy.

I am happy with their choices:

President— Engr. Mike Arcilla

Vice President Internal — Dra. Racquel Aparejo
(Tigi and Racquel are both single, Uyyyy).

Vice President External —- Teacher Del
Secretary —– Cora
Treasurer— Dra. Beck-beck (dentist)

Ex-president at last. Whew!

After the meeting, someone spoke in front pleading for financial assistance. I just caught the part when she said that her husband was sick. She looked familiar, I think nanghingi na rin sya dati. She got hold of my cell phone number and for one whole week, she barraged me with texts. What I couldn’t forget was when she texted me, “kahit ano’ng trabaho ibigay mo sa akin, wag lang katulong”. After I sent her some money, I never heard anything from her. I was expecting she would text once to say salamat. I was tempted yesterday not to give pero na-guilty naman ako kaya inabutan ko rin. Mas-mainam na tayo ang nagbibigay kesa tayo ang manghihingi. Mas malaking problema yun. (it’s better to give than to receive).

A good percentage of my batch mates have good lives. Big houses, cars, travels. And the best thing was they were able to send their children to good schools. Some have children who are lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, dentists, accountants, etc. A lot of them work abroad. Two of my classmates who are actually relatives of mine (mother side) were missing yesterday, I was told they’ve moved to Las Vegas because their youngest daughter, a nurse, is based in Vegas. They have the biggest house in Pila-pila.

On the other hand, some of them are dirt poor. I don’t know what happened. A few that I asked, dropped out of high school and got married. Kung wala ring trabaho yung asawa, kaya gutom ang nauwian nila. That’s sad. Because their parents had an average life earning a decent living. Just like all parents, they dreamed of sending their children to school for them to have a better life but sadly, their life retrogressed. paurong, Sa halip na umasenso, naghirap pa sila. I really don’t know if it’s their fate. Madalas kasi sa Binangonan, they would always say, eh kapalaran nya talaga na yumaman. I don’t really know if that’s really it. Kapalaran ba nila ang magutom? Hindi naman siguro. Why would God put them in this world? Just so they would starve from poverty? Hindi ka magugutom sa Binangonan, mura lang ang kangkong, kamote at tilapia. Minsan P10 a kilo ang tilapia, walang daya ang timbangan, ang daming dagdag at pasobra. They can plant in their tiny backyard. Malaking problema lang talaga pag-merong may sakit kasi ang mahal ng doktor, hospital at gamot.